The New Zealand centre Luke McAlister will join Sale on a two-year contract when the World Cup ends in October, the fifth member of the All Blacks' squad to sign a deal with a European club.

McAlister, a target for Toulouse initially, was first linked with Sale two months ago, when his inclusion in New Zealand's World Cup squad was far from assured. Since being considered as a centre rather than a fly-half, he has regained the favour of the All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who had hoped the 23-year-old would reconsider his decision to move to England.

McAlister told the New Zealand Rugby Union late last night that he was committing himself to Sale for the next two years with the option of a third, a timescale which would allow him to return to New Zealand and compete for a place in the 2011 World Cup, which is being held there. "I want to go overseas and experience a different lifestyle," said McAlister. "You only get one shot at it and I want to make the most of my career. I have lived in Manchester before and liked it," said McAlister, who spent 10 years of his boyhood in the north, including a stint in Manchester United's academy, when his father, Charlie, played rugby league for Oldham Roughyeds, Castleford and Sheffield Eagles.

"With Luke and Charlie Hodgson in our side, we have two of the best playmakers in the world," said the Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-André. "This is exactly the type of signing I have been trying to make to help us become a dominant force in world rugby. It is fantastic news for the club."

The Wallabies, meanwhile, insist they can turn the tables on New Zealand at the World Cup this autumn despite falling 26-12 to the All Blacks in a dour Tri-Nations finale in Auckland at the weekend.

Australia could not end their 21-year drought at a rain-lashed Eden Park as the All Blacks reinforced their position as the World Cup favourites. But the Wallabies' coach, John Connolly, still believes his team can reverse the result in France.

"We showed enough to keep impressing on the All Blacks that we are so close to getting on top of them," he said. "If we meet the All Blacks at the World Cup, we will not be intimidated by them. We know we can beat them and they know that."

Australia kept in touch with the home side for most of the match until the prop Tony Woodcock sealed the All Blacks' win when he scored the only try of the game, midway through the second half.